KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics in Kansas, Missouri and at the local level. Share your story idea with Charlie.
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The Johnson County pastor of the largest United Methodist church in the country announced Thursday he has launched a bid for U.S. Senate.
Church of the Resurrection Pastor Adam Hamilton discussed his candidacy during a news conference Thursday morning in Prairie Village.
You can watch his remarks in the video player below.
Johnson County, Kansas, Pastor Adam Hamilton announced he’s running for U.S. Senate
His campaign website, hamiltonforkansas.com, went live Thursday morning.
In February, Hamilton announced he was exploring the idea of running an independent campaign against incumbent U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.
Charlie Keegan/KSHB
Adam Hamilton meets with supporters.
Hamilton said his time as a pastor has connected him to the values of Kansans, which include being kind, caring for the needy and working together.
KSHB 41 News political reporter Charlie Keegan asked Hamilton why he chose to run as a Democrat instead of an independent. He replied that people he met on his listening session encouraged him to run as a Democrat.
“I think this is probably the only pathway to getting elected to Congress is being a part of one of those two parties,” Hamilton said. “I’m excited to be a Democrat, an independently-minded Democrat, who’s going to work really hard to build bridges across the political aisle.”
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Charlie Keegan interviews Reverend Adam Hamilton.
Members of Hamilton’s church attended Thursday’s announcement, including two men who said they have voted Republican in the past.
“We appreciate his values and I’d like to see some change up in Washington, D.C.,” Ed Schulteis said.
“We like the sense of being in the middle,” Max Sherman added.
Some voters may look at the moderate, middle of the road approach as a drawback — not Jan Kessinger. He ran a PAC in 2024 to elect centrist candidates to the Kansas statehouse.
“You call it a moderate, but it’s really commons sense, kindness and Kansas values,” Kessinger, a Republican, explained.
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Former state Senator Jan Kessinger speaks with a reporter.
Brandi Fisher attended Hamilton’s announcement, and she said she’s learning more about the candidates before August’s primary election.
“I’m looking for a candidate that can be a unifier,” Fisher said. “I think this is (a) moment when we need unity, and someone who will bring people together and standup for democracy and civility.”
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Brandi Fisher of Prairie Village speaks with a reporter.
Hamilton ended his speech Thursday with a summation of his approach.
“We have a better democracy when both parties work together.”
Charlie Keegan/KSHB
Adam Hamilton speaks with supporters at a campaign event.
The Kansas Secretary of State’s website shows four Democrats have filed to run: Damon Anderson, Jason Hart, Kevin Latz and Michael “Mike” Soetaert. Marshall is the lone Republican to have filed as of April 29.
Candidates in Kansas races have until June 1 to file their candidacy ahead of the primary election on Aug. 4.
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